Animated character two-dimensional object distributor

ABSTRACT

A device operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players is defined. An animated character has an appendage that automatically distributes two-dimensional objects, such as card or tiles, from a bin next to the animated character. The animated character is supported by a base above a horizontal surface. The animated character and the bin rotates about the base as the two-dimensional objects are distributed about the horizontal surface. The device uses audio and visual indicators to communicate with game players.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a game device, and moreparticularly to a table or floor game that uses an animated characterwith an appendage to distribute tiles about a horizontal surface for useduring game play.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Board games or table games for children are well known and very popular.Often in the prior art, manufacturers of such games have used animals aspart of the theme of the game to make the game more interesting and moreexciting for children. For example, HUNGRY HIPPOS™, ANTS IN THE PANTS™,BARREL OF MONKEYS™, and CROCODILE DENTIST™, which are manufactured byHasbro, and KING TOAD™ and DUCK, DUCK, BRUCE™, which are manufactured byGamewright, all employ animals in the games' themes to make the gamemore attractive to children.

Many of these games, such as KING TOAD™ and DUCK, DUCK, BRUCE™ useplaying cards as part of the game. The card games for children that useanimated characters in the prior art, however, involve manually dealingor flipping the cards.

Also known in the prior art, are machines that automatically deal ordistribute cards. For example, a 1911 patent, U.S. Pat. No. 999,670,issued to Murch, for “Machine for Dealing Playing Cards” discloses “arotary card dealer-carrier, a card holder or box carried thereby, anddevices acting in the rotation of the said dealer-carrier to delivercards at predetermined points in the said rotation.” A patent issued in1931, U.S. Pat. No. 1,824,542, to Hangerud, for an “Automatic CardDistributing Device” discloses a machine “for the distributing of anumber of cards, one at a time, at a plurality of spaces disposed abouta fixed point, the same being done automatically and continuously untilthe total number of cards to be distributed have been exhausted” andemploys “a base and a housing disposed centrally of the base andsuperposed thereabove” with “[a]utomatic means . . . provided in thehousing for the distributing of the cards one at a time”. A patentissued in 1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,153, to Rosenwinkel et al., for“Mechanical Card Dispenser and Method of Playing a Card Game” disclosesa machine that “is concerned with providing a game that mechanicallydispenses additional cards to a player in a dramatic manner”, and “achance element in operation of the device may still permit the player toescape receiving any additional cards” wherein “[d]epression of a buttonin accordance with card play, indexes a disc having variously spacedapart detents for actuating a battery motor driven eccentric wheel thatexpels the cards from a reservoir”.

A device combining an animated character that is used in a children'stable game with an automatic card dealing machine is unknown in theprior art. Accordingly, it would be desirable to create this type ofcombination, which will increase children's interest and excitementduring game play. The invention discussed in connection with thedescribed embodiment addresses these and other deficiencies of the priorart.

The features and advantages of the present invention will be explainedin or apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiment considered together with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the deficiencies of the prior art ofboard games and table games for children that use animated charactersand cards, tiles, or other two-dimensional objects as well as thedeficiencies of the prior art of automatic card dealing machines bycombining the two.

More particularly, a described embodiment of the invention provides adevice operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensionalobjects, such as tiles or cards, about a plurality of game players. Thedevice comprises an animated character with an appendage, such as awing, an arm, or a leg, wherein the appendage is used to distribute thetwo-dimensional objects. The device also comprises a base for supportingthe animated character above a horizontal surface with a panel forcovering the base and providing one or more compartments associated withthe base. In relation to the character and the base is a bin for holdinga supply of the two-dimensional objects. An input mechanism, such as abeak or a nose to squeeze, is used for activating the appendage, which,in turn, flips the two-dimensional objects from the bin. A power source,such as a battery powered motor or a spring, is used in response to theinput mechanism. In the present described embodiment, a rotatingmechanism is operable with the power source for moving the characterrelative to the base for distributing the two-dimensional objects aboutthe horizontal surface. Additionally, an indicator may be provided, suchas a plurality of colored lights or an audio source, operable with thepower source for communicating information to the game players. Finally,the two-dimensional objects may be cards or tiles containing graphics ortext that are used as part of the game playing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings. Novel features believedcharacteristic of the invention are set forth in the claims. Theinvention itself, as well as the preferred mode of use, furtherobjectives, and advantages thereof, are best understood by reference tothe following detailed description of the embodiment in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of the front of the present describedembodiment;

FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the back thereof;

FIG. 1C shows a perspective view of the side thereof illustrated withthe appendage as described;

FIG. 1D shows a perspective view of the side thereof opposite the sidewith the appendage;

FIG. 1E shows a perspective view of the top thereof;

FIG. 1F shows a perspective view of the bottom thereof;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the complete assembly thereof;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the front of the animated character ofthe described embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the gear mechanism and lights of apresent described embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the back of the animated characterthereof;

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the top of the base assembly thereof;

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the bottom of the base assemblythereof;

FIG. 8 shows a high-level schematic of the described embodiments;

FIG. 9 shows an example of a two-dimensional object containing graphics;and

FIG. 10 shows an example of a two-dimensional object containing text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A-1F show perspective views of the front, back, sides, top, andbottom, respectively, of a present described embodiment of the animatedcharacter two-dimensional object distributor device 10. The device 10may be used by a game player for distributing two-dimensional objects 22about a plurality of game players. The device 10 is operable by the gameplayer for distributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality ofgame players is defined. The device 10 has an animated character with anappendage that automatically distributes the two-dimensional objects,such as cards or tiles, from a bin next to the animated character. Theanimated character is supported by a base above a horizontal surface.The animated character and the bin rotate about the base as thetwo-dimensional objects are distributed about the horizontal surface.The device uses audio and visual indicators to communicate with gameplayers.

In the present described embodiment, the device 10 is shown as a penguinbeing the animated character 11 perched atop an iceberg. The animatedcharacter 11 has an appendage 12 for distributing, or flipping,two-dimensional objects 22, such as cards or tiles. In FIGS. 1A-1F, theappendage 12 is shown as the penguin's wing. In other describedembodiments, a different animated character may be used with anappendage being an arm or a leg. The iceberg comprises a base 14 forsupporting the animated character 11 above a horizontal surface, arotating mechanism 15 for moving the character 11 relative to the base14 for distributing two-dimensional objects 22 about the horizontalsurface, and a bin 16 for holding a supply of the two-dimensionalobjects 22 in relation to the character 11 and the base 14. In otherdescribed embodiments, the animated character may rest upon a supportother than an iceberg that relates to the animated character.

The device 10 has an input mechanism 18 for activating the appendage 12for outwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects 22 from the bin 16.In the described embodiment, the input mechanism 18 is the penguin'sbeak, where one squeezes the beak to activate rotation of the penguin'swing. In other described embodiments, the input mechanism may be anotherbody part, such as a nose, that when squeezed, or pulled or activated insome other way, will cause movement in a character's arm or leg.

The device 10 has a power source 20, shown in FIG. 1B as a batterycompartment, for operating the appendage 12 in response to the inputmechanism 18. The power source 20 may also be used to cause movement inthe rotating mechanism 15. The power source 20 may be used to power amotor or spring or some other similar mechanism, which, in turn, causesthe movement in the appendage 12 and the rotating mechanism 15.

The device 10 further has one or more indicators operable with the powersource 20 for communicating information to game players using the device10. FIG. 1E shows a light indicator 24 that may use a plurality ofdifferent colored lights to signal game players of certain events orsituations. Although the described embodiment uses different coloredlights, other means of using lights, such as flashing at different ratesmay be used. FIG. 1A shows an audio source 26 for communicating audioinformation to game players via a speaker or other means.

Lastly in referring to the perspective diagrams, FIG. 1F shows a panel28 for covering the base 14 and providing one or more compartmentsassociated with the base 14.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the whole assembly of the device 10.FIGS. 3-7 show exploded views of various sections of the whole assemblyshown in FIG. 2, and the whole assembly shown in FIG. 2 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 3-7.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the front of the animated character 11in the present described embodiment. In FIG. 3, a front outer housing 30or shell, which makes up the front outer portion of the penguin or otheranimated character, supports the input mechanism 18, the audio source26, a drive assembly housing front 48, an appendage leaf switch 48, andthe penguin's stationary wing 50.

The input mechanism 18 comprises a beak 32 or mouth portion, a lever 34,a lever support 36, and an input leaf switch 38. The beak 32 is composedof rubber, although other squeezable materials may be used, and fitsthrough an opening on the front outer housing 30. The lever 34 fits intothe beak 32 on one end and through an opening in the lever support 36such that the end of the lever 34 through the lever support 36 restsbelow the contact of an input leaf switch 38. The input mechanism 18 isengaged by a game player squeezing the beak 32 and causing the end ofthe lever 34 through the lever support 36 to rise and press the contacton the input leaf switch 38, thus activating the electronic circuitry ofthe device 10. Although a leaf switch is shown, other microswitches maybe used. Furthermore, although a squeezable beak is shown, other commoninput mechanisms may be used, such as buttons or switches.

The audio source 26 comprises a speaker 40, a speaker grill 42, and aspeaker mounting support 44. The speaker 40 is mounted on the speakermounting support 44 and pressed into the speaker grill 42 so that theaudio sound will emanate from the front of the animated character 11.Once the electronic circuitry of the device 10 is activated, the powersource 20 provides power to the audio source 26. Although audiocommunication is shown using a speaker in the described embodiment,other methods of communicating auditory information may be used, such asbells or whistles.

FIG. 3 also shows a stationary wing 50, which fits into a crevice on theouter side of the speaker grill 42 and is purely decorative.

FIG. 3 further shows a drive assembly housing front 46 and an appendageleaf switch 48, which are mounted inside the front outer housing 30. Theuse and operation of the drive assembly housing front 46 and theappendage leaf switch 48 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.Although a leaf switch is shown, other microswitches may be used.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a gear mechanism and lights of thedescribed embodiment. As described earlier, once the input mechanism 18is engaged, the electronic circuitry of the device 10 is activated. Whenthe electronic circuitry is activated, the power source 20 providespower to a motor 52 and to the light indicator 24. FIG. 4 shows theeffect of providing power to these components.

Once power is provided to the motor 52, the motor 52 causes a gearassembly 54 to turn. As shown in FIG. 4, the gear assembly 54 is createdto withstand manual manipulation so that the device 10 will be wellsuited for children to use and be difficult to break by using aclutching mechanism or other similar means. Once the gear assembly 54begins to turn, it causes an axle 56 or shaft to turn. The axle 56 issupported on one end by an axle mount 58, and, on the other end, theaxle 56 fits into a cam shaft 60. The cam shaft 60 further fits into theappendage 12. As the motor 52 causes the gear assembly 54 to turn, itcauses the axle 56 to turn the cam shaft 60 and the appendage 12. Thus,as will be shown below, the appendage 12 may then be used to makecontact with two-dimensional objects 22 and distribute or flip thoseobjects about a horizontal surface. Also, as the cam shaft 60 turns, acam makes contact with the appendage leaf switch 48 once per rotation.For each contact made, the appendage leaf switch 48 sends signals to theintegrated circuitry on the printed circuit board 68, which contains themicroprocessor or other similar integrated circuit that controls thelogical operation of the device 10. Although a leaf switch is shown,other microswitches may be used. Counters and timers in the integratedcircuitry on the printed circuit board may then be used to control thelight indicator 24, the audio source 26, and the number of rotations ofthe appendage 12.

The gear assembly 54 is also used to turn a standard pinion gear 62,which, as will be shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 rotates the animatedcharacter 11, the bin 16, and the rotating mechanism 15 about the base14.

The components of the light indicator 24 are also shown in FIG. 4 andconsist of a light assembly 64 and a light housing 66, the lightassembly being mounted on the printed circuit board 68. In the describedembodiment, colored lights are used to provide visual communications togame players, however, other means of using the lights, such asdifferent rates of flashing, may be used.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the back of the animated character 11in the described embodiment. A drive assembly housing back 70 coupleswith the drive assembly housing front 46 to fully enclose the motor 52and the gear assembly 54 and leave the axle 56 and the axle mount 58protruding from the coupled drive assembly housing. FIG. 5 also shows arear outer housing 72 of the animated character 11, which couples withthe front outer housing 30. FIG. 5 further shows the various supportcomponents of the power source 20, which include an on/off/mode switch74, and on/off/mode switch window 76, a battery compartment 78, and abattery compartment cover 80. Although the present described is shown asbattery powered, an embodiment thereof may use mechanical power, such assprings, or other means of electrical power, such as powering with aplug into a wall outlet.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the top of the base assembly of thedescribed embodiment. The penguin's right foot 82 and left foot 82 areeach supported on an animated character mounting platform 92 by a footmounting boss 84. The animated character 11 fits behind the feet into acircular depression in the mounting platform 92 and is supported by ananimated character mounting boss 86. When the animated character 11 ismounted on the mounting platform 92, the standard pinion gear 62 ispositioned through the standard pinion gear aperture 88. The effect ofthis positioning will be apparent with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 6 also shows a biased tile platform 90, which fits into the bin 16and is used to support the two-dimensional objects 22.

FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of the bottom of the base assembly of thedescribed embodiment, which rests directly below what is shown in FIG.6. A turntable 96 has the same shape as the combined animated charactermounting platform 92 and the bin 16 and is attached directly below it. Awheel assembly 94 is mounted onto a wheel assembly mounting boss 98 suchthat the wheel protrudes through the turntable 96 and rests on the base14, thus providing easy rotation of the turntable 96 about the base 14.The standard pinion gear 62 that is positioned through the standardpinion gear aperture 88, as described with reference to FIG. 6, fitsinto the aperture for a turntable gear 100 and provides the means forrotation of the turntable 96 about the base 14 once the turntable 96 ispositioned atop a turntable mounting boss 106.

Also shown in FIG. 7 is a spring 102 positioned in a spring mount 104.The biased tile platform 90 is placed into the bin 16 such that it restsatop the spring 102. Thus, the spring 102 provides an upward tensioninto the biased tile platform 90, which, when the two-dimensionalobjects 22 are placed into the bin 16, provides tension between thetwo-dimensional objects 22 and the appendage 12 to allow proper flippingand distribution.

Further shown in FIG. 7 is the panel 28 for covering the base 14. Theone or more compartments 108 are shown and may be used to store thetwo-dimensional objects 22 and other parts of the game such asinstructions.

FIG. 8 shows a high-level schematic of the described embodiment. Asshown in FIG. 8, the coordination of input signals from the inputmechanism 18 and output signals to a motor driver circuitry 112, therotating mechanism 15, a flipping mechanism 118, a sound effectscircuitry 114, the audio source 26, an indicator lights circuitry 116,and the light assembly 64 is controlled by a microprocessor 110, whichmay be provided as a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller aselectronic control circuitry that controls the described movement andsensory input and output of the device 10.

In the present described embodiment, the microprocessor 110 is operablewith the power source 20 and receives input signals from the inputmechanism 18 by a game player squeezing the beak 32 of the animatedcharacter 11. This squeezing motion causes the interaction between thelever 34 and the input leaf switch 38 as previously described, whichsends an electronic signal to the microprocessor 110 indicating that thebeak 32 has been squeezed. Upon receiving this input, the microprocessor110 sends output signals to the motor driver circuitry 112 operable withthe power source 20, which simultaneously causes the flipping mechanism118 to move the appendage 12 and causes the rotating mechanism 15, whichis also operable with the power source, to rotate the upper portion ofthe device 10 about the base 14. The microprocessor 110 or the motordriver circuitry 112 uses counters to control the number of flips andthe number of rotations. Also upon receiving an input signal, themicroprocessor 110 sends output signals to the sound effects circuitry114, which controls the audio source 26 and is operable with the powersource 20, and to the indicator lights circuitry, which controls thelight assembly and is also operable with the power source. Themicroprocessor 110 uses timers to control both the audio and lightindicators.

The remainder of this section describes the use of the device 10 interms of using it during game play and provides an example of theoperation of the device 10.

The contents of the game include the device 10, sixty-four double-sidedpicture tiles, such as are shown in FIG. 9, and sixteen double-sidedtiles with text, known as “mission tiles”, as shown in FIG. 10. Eachmission tile has two missions on it, one green and one red. The game isdesigned for two or more players age six or older.

To prepare for the game, a player must load the bin 16 with forty-eightpicture tiles, shuffle the mission tiles, and place the mission tilesnext to the device 10.

To begin the game, a player must squeeze the penguin's beak 32. Thepenguin will say “uh-oh” and begin flipping the picture tiles about thehorizontal surface as all portions above the base 14 rotate. The penguinwill flip up to twelve picture tiles about the horizontal surface. Whenthe penguin stops flipping and spinning, a player must flip over the topmission tile. The players must then look at the color of the lightindicator 24 to see if the light is green or red. If the light is red,the players must look at the red mission on the mission tile. If thelight is green, the players must look at the green mission on themission tile. To complete a mission, a player must find a picture on oneof the picture tiles that matches the text on the mission tile. Duringplay, the penguin may say “wat wat”, in which case the light indicator24 will change colors and the mission changes to match the color of thelight. If a player spots a picture that matches the mission, that playermust shout “Pictureka!”, point at the picture and say what that playersaw. If the other players disagree, the current mission continues. Ifnobody disagrees, the player removes the picture tile from the game andkeeps it. Play then continues with the mission matching the color of thelight on the light indicator 24. Once players have performed bothmissions on one side of a mission tile, one player must turn the missiontile over and perform the missions on the other side. Eventually, thepenguin will begin flipping tiles again and everyone should take a breakuntil the penguin finishes. Then, a new mission tile is used. If allplayers get cannot complete a mission, they may discard the currentmission tile and use a new one. Play continues until the penguin makes anoise that sounds like someone “blowing a raspberry” on a baby'sstomach. The player with the most picture tiles wins the game.

It should be noted that the game just described may be played with orwithout using the device 10, and, it should also be noted that othergames may be played using the above-described tiles both with or withoutthe device 10.

While the present invention has been illustrated by a description ofvarious embodiments and while these embodiments have been set forth inconsiderable detail, it is intended that the scope of the invention bedefined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that modifications to the foregoing preferred embodiments maybe made in various aspects. It is deemed that the spirit and scope ofthe invention encompass such variations to be preferred embodiments aswould be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and familiar withthe teachings of the present application.

1. A device operable by a game player for distributing two-dimensionalobjects about a plurality of game players, the device comprising: ananimated character; an appendage on the animated character fordistributing the two-dimensional objects; a base for supporting theanimated character above a horizontal surface; an input mechanism foractivating the appendage for outwardly flipping the two-dimensionalobjects; a power source for operating the appendage in response to theinput mechanism; and a rotating mechanism operable with the power sourcefor moving the character relative to the base for distributing thetwo-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface.
 2. The devicerecited in claim 1 further comprising an indicator operable with thepower source for communicating information to the game players.
 3. Thedevice recited in claim 2 wherein said indicator comprises a lightsource.
 4. The device recited in claim 3 wherein said light sourceprovides a plurality of different colored lights.
 5. The device recitedin claim 2 wherein said indicator comprises an audio source.
 6. Thedevice recited in claim 1 further comprising a bin for holding a supplyof the two-dimensional objects in relation to character and the base,wherein said input mechanism activates the appendage for outwardlyflipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin.
 7. The device recitedin claim 6 further comprising an indicator operable with the powersource for communicating information to the game players.
 8. The devicerecited in claim 1 further comprising a panel for covering the base andproviding one or more compartments associated with the base.
 9. Thedevice recited in claim 1 wherein said power source comprises a motor.10. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said power source comprises aspring.
 11. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said appendagecomprises one of an arm, a leg, and a wing of said animated character.12. The device recited in claim 1 wherein said input mechanism comprisesone of a nose and a beak of said animated character.
 13. The devicerecited in claim 1 further comprising a set of two-dimensional objectsincluding text or graphics.
 14. A method for distributingtwo-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players comprising:providing an animated character; providing an appendage on the animatedcharacter for distributing the two-dimensional objects; supporting theanimated character above a horizontal surface with a base; activatingthe appendage with an input mechanism, operating the appendage inresponse to the input mechanism using a power source, and outwardlyflipping the two-dimensional objects; and moving the character relativeto the base with a rotating mechanism operable with the power source anddistributing the two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface.15. The method recited in claim 14 further comprising the steps ofholding a supply of the two-dimensional objects in relation to thecharacter and the base with a bin, and activating the appendage andoutwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin with aninput mechanism.
 16. The method recited in claim 14 further comprisingthe steps of providing an indicator on the animated character andcommunicating information to the game players using the indicatoroperable with the power source.
 17. The method recited in claim 14further comprising the steps of covering the base with a panel andproviding one or more compartments associated with the base.
 18. Amethod for playing a game using a device operable by a game player fordistributing two-dimensional objects about a plurality of game players,the device having an animated character, an appendage on the animatedcharacter for distributing the two-dimensional objects, a base forsupporting the animated character above a horizontal surface, a bin forholding a supply of the two-dimensional objects in relation to characterand the base, an input mechanism for activating the appendage foroutwardly flipping the two-dimensional objects from the bin, a powersource for operating the appendage in response to the input mechanism, arotating mechanism operable with the power source for moving thecharacter relative to the base for distributing the two-dimensionalobjects about the horizontal surface, a first set of two-dimensionalobjects containing graphics, and a second set of two-dimensional objectscontaining text, the method comprising: placing the first set oftwo-dimensional objects in the bin; engaging the input mechanism on theanimated character; allowing the device to automatically distribute thefirst set of two-dimensional objects about the horizontal surface;placing the second set of two-dimensional objects near the device;reading text from the second set of two-dimensional objects; andmatching graphics from the first set of two-dimensional objects to thetext from the second set of two-dimensional objects.
 19. The methodrecited in claim 18 further comprising the steps of activating theappendage with the input mechanism, and outwardly flipping thetwo-dimensional objects from the bin with the appendage to automaticallydistribute the first set of two-dimensional objects about the horizontalsurface.
 20. The method recited in claim 18 further comprising the stepsof providing an indicator on the animated character operable with thepower source, and communicating information to the game players usingthe indicator.